The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-05
READING FOR THE DAY.
Les.on for JUNO ne. 1as
THN CoMMANpMENrs.-- Exodus e, 1-11.

THE COMMONWEALTH Xxx Ill
Golden Tex+-Jesus said unto him. Thou shalt
lovS the Lord, thy God, with all thy heart--Matt.
xii. 81.
God selected most impressive time and place
for giving his people great moral law, and it
was given in a manner that made it one of the
most memorable levents in all their history.
During the fifty years that followed the Pass
over they passed through variety Of expert
ences that proved to them the constant presence
and power of God in their behalf Their muir
qnurines had been stiled; they were daily fed
with manne and flesh; n great living fountain of
water accompanied them; they a great vic
tory over their enemies, and under the pillar of
cloud and OF fire they were beginning 10 have
the consciousness Of great nation, with great
destiny.
The place selected for giving the law was one
OF the most wonderful in the world Far away
from all their foes shut n by the great, lonely
mountains, God had led them to the base of
Mount Sinai. where, on an immense plain, large
enough to easily accommodate thrice as many
people, they encamped where every man could
see any special manifestation and hear a voice
from the summit Of the chief peak. The plain
extends to the very base of the precipitous cliff
which is nearly 5000 feet high. From it's top
God chose to proclaim the law. The people for
three days had been preparing for a great event
The burning, smoking mountain, the presence
of angels and at last the loud thunders, filled
Israel with terror. They draw further back
from the holy mountain, where not even a beast
might go in safety, and plead that God will
speak to them through Moses. The descriptions
given in Exodus xix and Deuteronomy v are
dramatic and intense.
We at once impressed by the brevity Of
the law that was after afd written out for them
byGod's own hand. There two natural di-
visions. or two tables, one Of which forms the
lesson for the day This has to do with our
duty toward God. while the second table has to
do with our duties toward each other. President
Dwight says that the statute laws of England Ali
about fifty octave volumes. while the common
or unwritten law occupies a far greater mum er
To understand them is the labor of lifetime.
The arranging and codifying of the laws of New
York has required many years of the time of our
ablest lawyers. How very simple and grand do
the Ten Commandments seem by the side of
our human lawsf And these ten are reduced to
two, and il is probable that all human law that
will stand the test of the ages will be found to
be based on 'The Ten Commandments"
Ewald and others have supposed that each OF
the ten laws were given at first in the simple
form Of the vi, VII. and VII. and that the
Moses under the direction of God.
POINTS AND APPLICATIONS.
1. God so loves me that he is jealous of my
giving any higher love to another.
q Gods demand for orr supreme love is based
in reason. IL is His right as our Creator, our
Providence, and our Redeemer
3. Loving God with all our hearts makes us
godlike We initiate the one we love.
THE GREAT SINS OF TO-DAY.
l. Neglect of Gods worship. Men stay away
from Gods house for many assumed reasons
The real one is that they do not love Him, and
they have other gods that thew worship
2 Profane U Sc or Gods Name-The sin ot
profanity is Of the most com on and de-
moralizing. The fact that do it without
thinking shows how fearfully they have hard
ened their hearts. Their first oath was taken
with shudder.
g. Disregard of Gods Day-God's day is dis
honored when made a day for pleasure Men
who use il entirely for rest 90 truly disregard
the day by making IL their own day instead of
the Lords. There are many false excuses given
Cor this selfish use of Gods day and this neglect
Of the services OF Gods house. There Is place
need to watch more than our increasing neg
lect and violation of Gods holy day.